Wyoming Legislator Calls on GOP Chair Eathorne To Resign After Secession Comments

Wyoming Rep. Landon Brown called on GOP Chair Frank Eathorne to resign for comments on his interest in secession,

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Annaliese Wiederspahn

January 19, 20212 min read

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At least one Republican legislator isn’t happy with Wyoming GOP Chairman Frank Eathorne’s recent statement that he’s looking with interest at fringe efforts in Texas to secede from the nation.

Rep. Landon Brown (R-Cheyenne) on Tuesday called on Eathorne to resign for his comments about former Trump advisor Steve Bannon’s podcast regarding his interest in secession.

“Floating the idea of secession as a party plank or statement is contradictory to my stance as a Republican,” Brown tweeted. “This idea is pathetic and ill advised – I am appalled that our chairman thinks he has this authority.”

Eathorne has received national attention for last week’s comments on Bannon’s show.

“We are straight talking, focused on the global scene, but we’re also focused at home. Many of these Western states have the ability to be self-reliant, and we’re keeping eyes on Texas too, and their consideration of possible secession. They have a different state constitution than we do as far as wording, but it’s something we’re all paying attention to,” Eathorne said.

The idea of secession, however, was too extreme even for Bannon, who said he is  “absolutely, 1,000% against any even discussion of secession.”

Rep. Brown told Cowboy State Daily that Eathorne’s comments in this instance and others have been too divisive for Wyoming.

“Frank Eathorne has done nothing but ostracize Republicans who don’t agree with him,” Brown said. “He does not represent the values of the Reagan-era GOP and I think we need to support Republicans in the party, not fractionalize the way our chairman has done.”

Eathorne and the Wyoming Republican Party have been critical of Wyoming Congresswoman Liz Cheney’s call for impeachment of President Trump.

“We are receiving the message loud and clear that what happened yesterday [Cheney’s vote for impeachment] is a true travesty for Wyoming and the country,” said a statement from the Wyoming Republican Party.

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Annaliese Wiederspahn

State Political Reporter